North Royalton elementary school receives new playground equipment for kids with disabilities

Royal View Elementary School will get new playground equipment this fall with the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

(North Royalton Schools)

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio -- Royal View Elementary School will get new playground equipment this fall with the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a student named Charlie.

The little boy, who turned six in May and has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, braves more than 200 seizures a day. His parents wanted to take him to Disney World with help from the wish-granting organization last year, but doctors declared the vacation a no-go.

"The trip would be too much stress on him," his father, Charlie Stella, 45, said. "We were a little disappointed. It was a little bit of a let down."

So the North Royalton family started thinking about the ways they already spend time and have fun at home with their oldest son and three other children: at parks.

"We know how important play is for anyone regardless of their abilities," Charlie Stella said.

Make-A-Wish donated $23,678 to build a playground where children with disabilities and other children can play together. The equipment includes both a glider that accommodates wheelchairs and monkey bars. North Royalton Schools expects to pay about $2,000 to install new mulch and a sidewalk leading to the playground.

Charlie and other children with disabilities need playgrounds that accommodate their needs while welcoming other children, said his father.

"Any child, anybody that has special needs, no matter to what extreme, there's clouds created by the differences that people see," Stella said. "We really hope that it changes."

The Stellas hope to find more opportunities to build playground equipment for children with disabilities across Northeast Ohio. They are joining Rocky River mom Ann Butler, who is working to build a playground for children with disabilities on a plot of land near Rocky River City Hall.